Nurse and breast cancer survivor returns to work to help future patients

Nurse and breast cancer survivor returns to work to help future patients

'I was always the caregiver, I didn't really want to be the patient,' Susan Abrahamson said

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Updated: 4:53 PM EST Dec 27, 2016

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WEBVTT SEE ONLY ON 5>> IT WAS A DAY THAT CHANGED ALOT.ZACH: SUSAN ABRAHAMSEN FOUND OUTIN FEBRUARY THAT SHE HAD STAGETWO BREAST CANCER.>> I KIND OF KNEW WHAT IT WASGOING TO BE.THERE IS NO OTHER REASON FORTHAT LYMPH NODE TO BE ENLARGED.ZACH: ABRAHAMSEN HAS BEENNURSE FOR NEARLY 30-YEARS MOSTRECENTLY FOR MERCY HOSPITALS.>> I'VE TAKEN CARE OF SO MAPEOPLE WITH BREAST CANCER.I WAS ALWAYS THE CARE GIVEI DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO BE THEPATIENT.ZACH: EVEN IN THE EARLY MONTHSAFTER THE DIAGNOSIS ABRAHAMSEN, CONTINUED HER PASSION FORHELPING PEOPLE.SOON CANCER TREATMENTS BECAME, TOO MUCH AND IN SEPTEMBER SHEWAS NO LONGER ABLE TO WORK.>> THERE IS JUST SO MANY DETAILSAND SMALL THINGS THAT COME UTHAT AS A PATIENT THEY EFFECYOU, BUT WHEN YOU ARE A MEDICALPERSON, YOU CANNOT REALLY THINKMUCH OF IT.ZACH: ON TUESDAY ABRAHAMSEN ISGETTING HER LAST ROUND OFRADIATION AND SHE IS RETURNINGTO NURSING THIS WEEK AS A CANCERSURVIVOR.SHE IS GOING TO USE HER OWNEXPERIENCE TO HELP HER FUTUREPATIENTS.>> THERE IS NOTHING WE C DO TOCHANGE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVECANCER.

Nurse and breast cancer survivor returns to work to help future patients

'I was always the caregiver, I didn't really want to be the patient,' Susan Abrahamson said